Getting Spark’d

Recipe1 part cool, up for whatever friend1 part classic wine bar in PHLSprinkle a Blizzard to taste.

Everyone has that friend. And if you don’t have this friend, you need to get one ASAP. Like, put it at the top of your to-do list right now.

This friend is the one that casually asks if you want to meet up for drinks. Or explore this up and coming neighborhood. Or try this new brunch place. And through a series of seemingly unplanned, completely coincidental, really random incidents the night or day gets away from you and the next thing you know you’re waking up next to someone you just met six hours ago. Allegedly.

My friend’s code name is TheSpark and I know when I’m getting Spark’d. There is the unmistakable sound of a champagne bottle being popped and the air smells of adventure. It usually starts with a “we totally need to catch up” text. Then comes a location that “we totally need to try”. This time, we went with the classic Vintage. It’s a place that could easily set up shop in date-night-super-cheesy town, but somehow while it flirts with that vibe there is always a group of people at the bar that keep it from taking root there. Great wine, great food, and great relaxed vibe where you can talk, but not feel like everyone is overhearing your conversation.

We stuck with red wine and tried the Wild Mushroom Feuillete (Spinach, Gruyere, Chestnut Béchamel) which was on their restaurant week menu. It was ridiculously good, people. So good that we were encouraged to brave the blizzard and continue our night. I would share what happened next, but the first rule of being Spark’d is you do not talk about being Spark’d.

If it has never happened to you, well, I’m sorry for you. It’s the best kind of random.